J&J to seek authorization of booster shot this week: report

Johnson & Johnson will reportedly seek authorization for a booster shot this week, as concerns are rising regarding the effectiveness of its single-shot COVID-19 vaccine compared to other jabs.

The New York Times, citing unidentified officials familiar with the company’s plans, reported on Monday that Johnson & Johnson is planning to request authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) early this week for a booster shot, joining Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna in asking for approval for an additional shot.

The FDA announced on Friday that its expert advisory committee will discuss booster shots for Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine during its meetings on Oct. 14 and 15.

The agency will also discuss booster shots for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during those gatherings.

The FDA’s scheduling of an advisory committee meeting even before Johnson & Johnson submitted an application for authorization of its booster shot reflects the urgency in which the federal health agency is looking to get approval for additional vaccine doses to better protect Americans, the Times noted.

The health agency last month authorized booster shots for Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 65 years and older and others who are at high risk of severe disease.

Moderna in early September announced that it started submitting data regarding its booster shot to the FDA.

While all three vaccines currently authorized in the U.S. have been proven effective in protecting against severe illness, a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released late last month found that J&J’s vaccine was 71 percent effective in preventing hospitalizations for COVID-19, while Pfizer’s shots were 88 percent effective and Moderna’s jabs were 93 percent effective.

A Johnson & Johnson spokesperson on Monday referred The Hill to a company announcement in September that said research showed its booster provides 94 percent COVID-19 protection.

Updated at 7:42 a.m.